Williamstown - The March 6 death of Dana Reeve, known for her talents as a singer and actor and her uncompromising devotion to her late husband, actor, director and activist Christopher Reeve, has impacted this small town, its' residents and its' renowned summertime showcase, the Williamstown Theater Festival.
Reeve died of lung cancer late Monday. She was 44 years old.
"We'll Miss Her Very Much"
Richard and Carol DeMayo, owners of the Bonnie Lea Farm on Route 7, were long-time friends of the couple. The news of Dana Reeve's death came as a cruel blow, said Richard DeMayo.
"Dana was a warm person, a terrific person, no airs at all," said DeMayo. "She was a rock with Chris, and with helping him. She was a good mother, a good person, and a great entertainer. Everything that she did for Chris she did whole-heartedly. This is such a loss...we'll miss her very much."
In August 2005, Reeve, a non-smoker, announced that she'd been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. During interviews that followed her diagnosis, Reeve seemed optimistic about beating the cancer and had said during at least one CBS news interview that the cancer was responding well to treatment.
In January 2006, she sang publicly at Madison Square Garden during an event honoring New York Rangers hockey legend Mark Messier.
"A Beautiful And Talented Woman"
Williamstown Theater Festival Director Roger Rees described Dana Reeve as "a beautiful and talented woman."
"Dana was one of the great examples of what the Williamstown Theater Festival and theater in general can do with a life," Rees said, and added that both Dana and Christopher Reeve began their careers as unknown entities within the WTF family.
"They both moved through the festival and became international stars," Rees said.
Dana Reeve was a member of the WTF Board of Trustees. In 2005, Rees announced that the final performance of each subsequent WTF season will be dedicated to the memory and work of Christopher Reeve.
Dana Reeve's professional and personal accomplishments stand as a testament to her strength and talent, he said.
"We celebrate her life," he said.
Dana [Morosini] Reeve was performing as a member of the WTF company when she met Christopher Reeve in 1987. The couple married in 1992, and had a son, Will, who is now 13 years old. The family had a home on Treadwell Hollow Road.
Admiration, Adoration, and Respect
Dana Reeve earned tremendous world-wide admiration, adoration, and respect for her unwavering support of her husband after a spring 1995 horseback riding accident left Christopher Reeve paralyzed from the neck down. Christopher Reeve died in October 2004 and Dana Reeve became chairwoman of the Christopher Reeve Foundation following his death. She was the founder of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center.
She continued to perform throughout the years of her marriage and after her husband's death. Among her television appearances were roles on the NBC television series "Law and Order." She hosted a Lifetime Network daily talk show during 2000. She appeared in the movies "The Brooke Ellison Story" and "Above Suspicion."
Her WTF work included a June 2004 "Cabaret & Main" performance at the theater's Main Stage, a 1998 performance as "Marie Castle" in a production of "The Big Knife", which was directed by Joanne Woodward, and a 1997 performance as "Julie Glynn" in a WTF production of "Johnny On The Spot."
She appeared as chorus member Dana Morosini during a 1989 WTF performance of "John Brown's Body." Christopher Reeve acted in a leading role during the production.
Christopher and Dana Reeve performed together during a 1994 WTF 40th anniversary celebration performance of "De-Lovely."
"This Seems So Unfair"
The DeMayo family shared family events and numerous holidays, such as in-town Thanksgiving weekend and New Year's Eve celebrations, with Christopher and Dana Reeve. The Reeve family attended the 2004 wedding of the DeMayo's daughter Carin. Will Reeve is close in age to a DeMayo grandson.
Carol DeMayo sent an e-mail to Dana Reeve last week, and the communication was unanswered, Richard DeMayo said.
"We didn't think very much about that," he said, and noted that Dana Reeve was known for leading a busy, fulfilling life. "There was a good, loving relationship between families."
DeMayo said that the family's heart goes out to Will Reeve, who will be 14 years old later this year. In less than two years, the young man has lost both parents, DeMayo said.
"He's an amazing kid, a great kid, very strong and mature," DeMayo said. "I know he will be well taken care of, and I'm sure that he will handle this, but it will be difficult."
Christopher and Dana Reeve were a down-to-earth couple committed to each other, to friends and family, and to finding a cure for paralysis. The death of Dana Reeve so soon after her husband seems especially sad, DeMayo said.
"They were just warm, genuine people," he said. "Cancer is a horrible thing, and this seems so unfair."
Susan Bush may be reached ay suebush@iberkshires.com or at 802-823-9367.
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Williamstown's Images Holds Ribbon-Cutting at Renovated Theater
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Before breaking the seal on a renovated Images Cinema, its leadership expressed gratitude to everyone who made it happen.
“Matt [Brogan] just said something to me about what a lucky day it is,” Images Board Chair Steve Simon said at the outset of Friday morning’s brief ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Spring Street movie house. “And I have to say, that is exactly the sentiment I have. What a lucky day.
“This has truly been a project of heart and love, envisioned, in many ways, by Kevin O’Rourke and Wit McKay. As we responded to what’s happened to theaters in this country with COVID and streaming, we were like, ‘We have to do something different and better.’ “
The result is a very different Images than the one that closed for renovations last October.
The most striking change is that where the facility once was a single, 150-seat theater, Images now boasts a 70-seat main screen, 18-seat second theater and 15-seat lounge. The new theaters also boast better seats and technical upgrades to enhance the viewing experience, like 4K laser projection in the big theater.
“In our main theater, thanks to a grant from Feigenbaum Foundation, we have a Dolby Atmos-certified system, the only of its kind in Berkshire County, and the only of its kind between New York and Boston,” Executive Director Dan Hudson said before joining Simon in cutting the ribbon. “It's truly a world class cinema that is a gift from the community back to the community. So proud and privileged to be part of all of this.”
The theater reopened in May but celebrated its rebirth Friday as part of the townwide, two-day celebration of America’s birth.
The town is getting a jump on July 4 with a full day and night of activities on Friday to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. click for more
Local theaters also have to adapt to constantly-changing conditions and trends in the film and theater industry. This requires balancing the often-convoluted requirements of movie studios and distributors with the preferences and tastes of local audiences.
click for more
Deb Dane has spent a lifetime working to build community and the last 20 years doing so at the town's public, educational, and government access television channel, WilliNet. click for more
Uhry won a Pulitzer Prize for his work; he won an Oscar for the 1989 film adaptation of the play, which also won the Best Picture Oscar. Yes, that's how good it is. click for more
A granite installation in Bloedel Park next to the town's new traffic rotary honors the area's first residents and caps an effort that began five years ago. click for more
